Confused by quotations from 3 different people - advice pls

We have a 2 bed flat, 2 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen and bathroom.

The lounge has had 8 new double sockets added around the room which are in a ring. The sockets have tails and the ends of the ring are by the door ready for connection.

The rest of the flat is with 10 year old wiring, in a ring as follows:

2 sockets in each bedroom, 1 socket in the hallway, 3 sockets in the lounge. These form a ring. The kitchen is on its own ring.

The bathroom has been refitted and has no lights. The kitchen has a new ceiling and no lights.

We have asked for somone to fit 6 spots in the kitchen, 4 in the bathroom, replace the consumer unit and connect up the 8 sockets in the lounge.

We had 3 quotes as follows:

£2170+VAT including all parts - a complete re-wire (lights and sockets) as the guy didn't want to work out what wiring went where.

£1800 including all parts. Connecting up 8 lounge sockets, install lights in bathroom and kitchen, replace consumer unit. Exisiting wiring will be extended to the CU. The guy also wants £250 for an informal inspection report beforehand.

£1350 - the electrician didn't see the flat and quoted based on what his builder told him

We're a bit confused as the prices seem to vary quite a lot. On eguy didn't even see the flat, one wants what seems like a lot to put in the lights, hook up the ring in the lounge and change the CU. The last guy seems to thing a complete re-wire is needed and is charging the most.

We also think £250 for a 4 hour informal inspection is a lot to pay given that the going rate for a formal inspection seems to be about £200.

So, should we get more quotes? Are any of the prices reasonable for what they are offering?

What is the going rate for a consumer unit change and certifcation - £800?

Many thanks.

Which of these (if any) have included the cost of certification and notification to the loocal authority in their quote.

Also are any of them members of one of the "Part P" registration schemes?

As a first quyick glance i would discount anybody who doesn't even review a job and takes what a builder says for granted.

Other questions.

What sort of flat is this? I mean ground floor with another flat above?
What sort of lighting are you planning to be installed?
Any VAT included in all/any of the quotes. Compaisons can be skewed £400 there 20% on top later.

I would immediately rule out the most expensive one and the cheapest one.
Cheapest - he hasn't got a clue what he's getting into
Most Expensive - you (probably) don't need a rewire


Middle priced one could be ok, at least he wants to test + inspect before he carries out the work

Get some more quotes

Thanks for the replies.

Only the most expensive is adding VAT

1st floor flat. All include certification but only the middle priced one has said that he is - and I've checked.

Lighting - lounge and bedrooms - standard pendant. Bathroom and kitchen spots.

The middle one sounds ok but it seems a lot for the work.

Consumer unit change - £500
Wire lights in kitchen and bathroom - £400
Certify - £100?

Where does the other £800 end up? Given that it is a 3 day job and just the one guy can we assume £200 per day in his pocket?

Is £250 for him to essentially work out how to do the job worth paying? I have a wiring plan that I made when I put down sound proofing under the floor. It's really simple and clear what goes where.

Maybe they've put in a large price because they don't want to work for you?

funkyd said:

Is £250 for him to essentially work out how to do the job worth paying? I have a wiring plan that I made when I put down sound proofing under the floor. It's really simple and clear what goes where.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. You need to carry out a range of tests, insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedence etc to test your installation to ensure it's suitable for the new consumer unit.

If your wiring is 10 years old, you presumably have a consumer unit with MCB's and at least one RCD, so what are you having installed? A consumer unit with two RCD's? Do you need it changing?

Iggifer said:

funkyd said:

Is £250 for him to essentially work out how to do the job worth paying? I have a wiring plan that I made when I put down sound proofing under the floor. It's really simple and clear what goes where.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. You need to carry out a range of tests, insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedence etc to test your installation to ensure it's suitable for the new consumer unit.

If your wiring is 10 years old, you presumably have a consumer unit with MCB's and at least one RCD, so what are you having installed? A consumer unit with two RCD's? Do you need it changing?

Click to expand...

Yes because the guy (middle price) wants a mains circuit for each room instead of one for the whole flat. There are two free MCB's so one could be for the bathroom lighting and one for the lounge sockets. I don't see the problem?

It's hard to say without seeing your current set up (maybe post some photos)

But from what you've said, it doesn't sound like the work you want done needs a new consumer unit but like I say, without pictures....

RF Lighting said:

Maybe they've put in a large price because they don't want to work for you?

Click to expand...

Or perhaps its not that they have a issue with the OP himself but having looked at the job have realised it could throw up unexpected difficulties that would take extra time, so has put in an allowance for the unknown